On the 442nd Eve of Holy Annihilation, stand upon The Nameless King’s shores, and the halls beneath His waves shall be revealed to the chosen few. Revelry will be observed, carnal hungers shall be sated, alliances weighed, and debts remembered.
Each guest is allowed a maximum of five concubines.
Identities, as always, are indulged only at His Majesty’s discretion.
Masks are mandatory for all guests, including accompanying concubines who must remain leashed at all times. As standard, male and aequili concubines are permitted to wear acloth of two handspans, female concubines are permitted to wear a cloth of a single handspan. All may be decorated in the jewels of their regent’s selection.
Adorn yourselves in the grandeur befitting Sinsól, the city of the great abyss beneath the sea and prepare for an evening of sin and splendor.
— Issued by His Majesty, The Nameless King of the Sovereign State of Sinsól.
I rollup the scroll and pass it back to Somnus.
“On one condition.”
Somnus gives me a sardonic smirk. “I see it’s taken you no time at all after gaining your god power to bargain like one too.”
I don’t grin or smirk back. I have no interest in feigning mirth or confidence or humor or... whatever egoistic court posturing bullshit might normally accompany these things.
“All I care about is protecting Violette and Azrael. Help me with this one thing, and I’ll rescue your female for you.”
Somnus gradually nods in understanding.
“Name your price.”
Scenarios filter through my mind. I need to word this carefully.
“You’re aware this may very well be a suicide mission?”
Somnus’ brows knit together like I’ve said something foolish.
“Violette is powerful beyond her comprehension—if only she would acknowledge her god-side; open herself up to her god-gifts—but even if she came in contact with palladium, you have Azrael with you. His power is even greater than my own. Greaterthan the power of any god that walks this realm. Killing Abyrion—her father—would hardly require much effort?—”
“Which is why, in order for us to accomplish this suicidally insane task, I would need you to persuade the externalized half of Azrael’s subconscious to return to us.”
The expression on Somnus’s face is, momentarily, one of confusion until his eyes grow distant and begin to glow faintly. His jaw slackens a moment later, eyes snapping to mine as grim frustration thins his lips. “Fuck.”
“Indeed.”
With an exasperated groan, Somnus scrubs a hand down his face as he begins to pace the short length of the bathroom.“Fuck, fuck, fuck, FUCK.”Abruptly, he turns on his heel to face me. “You have no idea what a disaster this is. Not to mention, that asshole will probably have me bargain away my soul before agreeing to cooperate.”
A corner of my mouth twitches. His eyes narrow.
“Gods-be-damned. Fine. Just... wait here. Don’t leave the inn—don’t goanywhereuntil he arrives.”
LEVI
“We need to leave.” There’s a thread of panic laced through Azrael’s voice as his blazing amber eyes meet mine the moment I step out of the fucking bathroom.Because of course we do.
Azrael rubs at his chest, brows drawn together into one hard line. “Something is wrong–I can feel it. I was sound asleep and felt this pain in my fucking chest.”
Anxiety turns into a vicious knot in my sternum.
Is the god of death having a fucking heart attack? Is that even possible?
Considering he survived a beheading, I suppose anything is possible.
“And then when I woke up with the sound of their voices?—”